New Bill Funds School-Community Partnerships to Keep Drugs Away from Kids: $7 Million Annually Starting 2026

The 'Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act of 2025' is setting up a grant program to help communities and schools team up against substance use among young people. Basically, it's putting money where it's needed to prevent drug issues before they start.

Teaming Up Against Drugs

This bill authorizes the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to give out grants to local coalitions that partner with schools. The goal? To implement solid drug prevention programs that actually work. Each coalition can get up to $75,000 per year to make this happen. It's all about creating a united front in the community and at school to tackle substance use head-on. For example, a rural community hit hard by the opioid crisis could use these funds to launch educational campaigns in schools, partner with local law enforcement on awareness programs, and support after-school activities that provide alternatives to drug use.

Cash Where It Counts

From 2026 to 2031, the bill sets aside $7 million each year for these grants. That's a serious chunk of change aimed at keeping drugs out of schools. Importantly, up to 8% of this funding can be used for administrative costs, ensuring that the bulk of the money goes directly to prevention efforts. Think of it like this: a school district could partner with a local community center to offer workshops for parents on recognizing the signs of drug use, or provide training for teachers on how to talk to students about substance abuse. The bill specifies that these grants are meant to add to existing drug prevention efforts, not replace them (Section 2, "Use of Funds").

Real-World Rollout

To get the money, coalitions need to submit a detailed plan showing how they'll work with local schools to run effective drug prevention programs (Section 2, "Application Process"). This isn’t just about throwing money at the problem; it's about making sure there's a solid plan in place. And it's not a one-time deal—coalitions can apply for renewal grants for up to three additional years, providing some stability for these programs. The bill also makes it clear that these programs will be evaluated using the standards from the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (Section 2, "Evaluation"), meaning they'll be checked to make sure they're actually making a difference.

###Potential Roadblocks

While this bill is a step in the right direction, there are potential challenges. The money is there, but making sure it's used the right way is key. There’s a risk that funds could be mismanaged or end up paying for things that don’t directly help with drug prevention. It’s also crucial that the coalitions actually deliver effective programs. Another potential issue is that administrative costs could eat up more of the funds than intended, even though the bill caps it at 8%. Success is going to hinge on smart planning and strong partnerships between schools and communities.